Key result
Theragun percussive therapy provided an acute 11.4% increase in hamstring range of motion and decreased tissue stiffness compared to passive rest (P<0.026).
Why the study?
Percussive therapy massage guns have shown beneficial effects on range of motion, but the mechanism behind these increases remains unreported.
Does percussive therapy improve hamstring range of motion and tissue dynamics in healthy participants?
RCT (n=20)
Does percussive therapy improve hamstring range of motion and tissue dynamics in healthy participants?
p-value: p=<0.026
Percussive therapy provides an acute increase in hamstring range of motion and a decrease in tissue stiffness.
Hypothesis-generating for minimal-dose percussive therapy on ROM; larger trials needed before practice adoption.
Handheld percussive therapy (PT) massage guns have seen a rapid rise in use and with-it increased attention within injury prevention and sport performance settings. Early studies have proposed beneficial effects upon range of motion (ROM), however the mechanism behind these increases remains unreported. This study aimed to determine the influence of a minimal frequency PT dose upon ROM and myotonometry outcomes. Twenty participants (N = 20; 13 males and 7 females, height 1.78cm ± 9.62; weight 77.35kg ± 8.46) participants were allocated to either a PT group receiving 2 x 60-seconds (plus 30-seconds rest) via a Theragun™ Pro4 to the hamstrings covering a standardised 20 lengths from proximal to distal via the standard ball attachment at 1 bar of pressure or a control group (CON) of 2-minutes 30-seconds passive supine rest. Pre and post intervention outcomes were measured for ROM via passive straight leg raise (PSLR) and tissue dynamics via MyotonPro (Tone, Stiffness, Elasticity, Relaxation Time). Results showed significant within-group increases (p < 0.0001, ηp2 0.656, +11.4%) in ROM following PT and between group difference against CON (P < 0.026). Significant within-group differences in stiffness (p < 0.016, ηp2 0.144, -6%), tone (p < 0.003, ηp2 0.213, +2%) and relaxation time (p < 0.002, ηp2 0.232, +6.3%) were also reported following PT. No significant difference was reported in elasticity (P > 0.05) or any other between group outcomes. PT therapy can provide an acute increase in hamstring group ROM following a resultant decrease in tissue stiffness.
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Skinner et al. (2023) reported an RCT. Theragun percussive therapy vs. 2-minutes 30-seconds passive supine rest was evaluated on Range of motion via passive straight leg raise and tissue dynamics (p=<0.026). Theragun percussive therapy provided an acute 11.4% increase in hamstring range of motion and decreased tissue stiffness compared to passive rest (P<0.026).
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